January 10, 2023
Canada to Phase Out Fluorescent Lamps
Proposal cites manufacture end date in 2023, retail end date in 2026
Canada’s Department of the Environment and Department of Health have proposed amendments to the 1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act that would effectively phase out the manufacture of most fluorescent lamps by the end of 2023 and ban the sale of most fluorescent lamps by the end of 2026. The proposal centers around the environmental risks of lamps containing mercury – and not energy efficiency or meeting specific lumens per watt targets.
The proposed Amendments would affect numerous categories of lamp products including linear and compact fluorescent lamps. The majority of affected lamps would be prohibited in December 2023, with a three-year interim period where replacement lamps would be permitted before the full prohibition takes place in December 2026.
Additionally, all other mercury-containing lamp manufacturing and imports, except those used for air and water treatment as well as fluorescent and discharge lamps under the catch-all category, would be prohibited by December 2031.
The lamp types cited below have proposed manufacture/import end dates of December 31, 2023 and sales end date of December 31, 2026.
-
Pin-base compact fluorescent lamp for general lighting purposes
-
Straight fluorescent lamp for general lighting purposes
-
Non-linear fluorescent lamp for general lighting purposes, including a circular or square fluorescent lamp
-
Induction fluorescent lamp for general lighting purposes
-
Metal halide lamp for general lighting purposes
-
Cold cathode fluorescent lamp
-
External electrode fluorescent lamp
The categories below have longer proposed sunsets with manufacture and import to cease by the end of 2028, and a sales end date of 2031.
-
High pressure sodium vapor lamp for general lighting purposes
-
Fluorescent and discharge lamps used for growing plants
Manufacture or import of lamps that contain mercury
The proposed Amendments would decrease the maximum quantity of mercury contained in some lamps manufactured or imported into Canada and would enforce a prohibition date for the manufacture and importation of mercury-containing lamps.
The proposed Amendments would end the exemption for most mercury-containing lamps under Canada’s current regulations, as there are now widely available mercury-free alternatives for these products. Most lamps for general lighting purposes would be prohibited by January 1, 2024, while high-pressure sodium vapor lamps for general lighting purposes would be prohibited by January 1, 2029.
Sales of replacement lamps that contain mercury
For transition purposes, specified replacement lamps would be allowed for a 3-year period under the proposed Amendments to replace lamps that were already in use. The sale of these replacement lamps would be prohibited two years after their exemption expires, in order to avoid issues of stockpiling while allowing retailers to sell their stock. In addition, replacement bulbs for existing automobile headlamps would be allowed with no end date.
Canadian authorities are currently seeking comments from the public during a 75-day consultation period that ends March 9, 2023.
